In this episode of the "Heavy or Not" podcast, we dive into Mindful Swimming with Brian Holliday. Plus, we pick up again on part two of an earth shattering expert panel that gathered after the Paris Olympics to talk about USA Swimming.

As is always the case, both the mental and physical aspects of the sport come into focus. Join us as we explore insightful discussions from top coaches and experts.

• Discover the concept of mindful swimming with Brian Holliday and how it can enhance your swimming experience.
• Learn about the importance of goal setting for young athletes and how it varies with age.
• Understand the impact of motivational time standards and their role in competitive swimming.
• Explore the significance of aerobic development in young swimmers and its long-term benefits.
• Hear from top coaches about the challenges and strategies in training elite swimmers for international competitions.

Tune in to gain valuable insights and improve your swimming journey!

1. **Introduction to the Podcast Episode**
- Jump cut number 20 of the podcast "Heavy or Not"
- Continuation of a clinic discussion from a prior episode
- Mention of the availability of the entire episode and transcripts online

2. **Mindful Swimming by Brian Holliday**
- Benefits of swimming for physical health
- Mental health challenges associated with swimming
- Inner monologue and self-criticism during swimming
- Comparison with other swimmers and personal best obsession
- Solution: Mindful swimming and being present in the moment
- Three key aspects for mindful swimming: balance, whole-body swimming, and controlled breathing

3. **Mental Skills for Young Athletes**
- Mention of a resource by John Hoag, a PhD sports psychologist and swim coach
- Availability in the ISCA Learning Management System
- Encouragement to explore and learn from the resource

4. **Panel Discussion with Coach Brent Arckey**
- Goal setting process for young athletes
- Ownership of goals by athletes
- Discussion on motivational time standards and their impact
- Importance of speed and endurance in swimming
- Strategies for improving performance in races

5. **Discussion on Swimming Standards and Training**
- Historical perspective on time standards and their impact
- Importance of aerobic development in young swimmers
- Challenges in developing middle-distance swimmers
- Role of endurance training in overall performance

6. **Coaching Strategies and Philosophies**
- Importance of being real and providing constructive feedback to athletes
- Role of club coaches in developing endurance and capacity
- Discussion on age group competitions and event offerings
- Debate on the teachability of speed versus endurance

7. **International Swimming Success and Cooperation**
- Success of international swimmers trained by American coaches
- Importance of cooperation among coaches for athlete success
- Challenges faced by Team USA in terms of coach collaboration

8. **Conclusion and Call for Audience Feedback**
- Invitation for audience feedback on the frequency of podcast episodes
- Encouragement for audience interaction and contribution to future episodes.

In this insightful discussion, top swim coaches and sports scientists delve into the evolving landscape of coaching and athlete development. They explore the challenges and opportunities in preparing athletes for peak performance on the world stage.

Their stage was the Eastern States Clinic after the 2024 Olympic Games.

• The importance of explaining coaching philosophies and the science behind them to engage today's intelligent and skeptical athletes.
• Strategies for fostering athlete autonomy and responsibility, and the role of mental health resources in athlete development.
• The significance of endurance training and aerobic development in young athletes for long-term success.
• The impact of collaboration and resource sharing among coaches on international success.
• The role of sports science and biomechanics in enhancing athletic performance and setting new world records.
  
  

The video allows visual clues as to the various speakers. See the entire presentation at the Substack.com/@rauterkus.

Bob Bowman, University of Texas, coach of Leon Maqrchand of France
Tom Himes, NBAC Head Coach and ISCA Hall of Fame
Brent Archey, Sarasota Sharks and Coach of Summer MacIntosh of Canada
Carol Capitani, Univ of Texas Women and USA Olympic Coach
Dr. Zac Hojnacki, sports psych and former coach in Metro LSC
Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas, sport science, formerly with USA Swimming
Mark Schubert, 8-time USA Olympic Coach

The Coaching Wizard is a bold new initiative to prototype an AI-powered mentorship and learning platform that transforms how aquatic instructors, youth leaders, and civic educators grow, teach, and lead. Designed to work within and across schools, community pools, recreation centers, and underutilized civic spaces, this idea reimagines the role of coaching as a personalized, lifelong, and community-embedded learning journey.

At its core, the Coaching Wizard blends emerging technologies with proven pedagogical approaches. The platform delivers AI-generated insights, adaptive learning content, and motivational nudges to coaches and youth in real time—helping them refine skills, develop leadership capacities, and support others. From new swim instructors seeking certification to youth transitioning into mentorship roles, the Coaching Wizard guides learners along individualized pathways that emphasize both personal mastery and public impact.

The initiative integrates with the proposed ISCA’s I-League, which activates schools and pools lacking robust programming, and with U CAN Swim, which supplies professional development and mentoring for aquatic educators. Together, these elements create a complete ecosystem for lifespan learning -- from learning to swim, to leading swim teams, to applying those leadership skills in civic, entrepreneurial, or public health contexts.

If you want to help, contact Coach Mark at Mark@Rauterkus.com.